Organization Studies

Student admission is restricted to full-time study exclusively for the first four years. It is not recommended to be working outs

Students undertake the comprehensive examination after completing their coursework. The comprehensive examination is intended to assess the students’ mastery of core topics in Organization Studies and to demonstrate basic proficiency in research methods. It takes place during or immediately after the summer of the second year. The comprehensive exam is a written exam consisting of two parts. Part I tests students’ knowledge of theory, ability to conceptualize and ability to extend or offer novel insights into current theory. Part II is a research methods exam. Those who fail have the opportunity to retake the exams once, within six months of the date of the first comprehensive exam. Those who fail to pass a second time are not allowed to continue in the PhD program.

The program regards the comprehensive examination as a pivotal point for deciding whether students should be allowed to proceed with their studies or be encouraged to withdraw from the program.de of the PhD program during your studies. Students must be able to participate in the PhD program in Toronto.

Choose a study option to view its details and requirements

Available delivery options

Full-time 48 to 72 months

Location(s)

Keele Campus Toronto

Graduation Requirements

The PhD program in Organization Studies is an individualized, research oriented program of study that requires the student to complete core and elective courses in Organizational Behavior and Theory, research methods, and a minor discipline of the candidate’s choice. The program consists of four stages in sequence: coursework, comprehensive examinations, dissertation proposal, and dissertation defense.

Coursework:

Students are expected to undertake the following courses in their first two years of study. They are advised to spread out this course work to commit to a maximum of 3 courses per semester (not including the Graduate Colloquium in Management) and must finalize all course work by June of their second year in the program:

ORGS Mandatory Courses

ORGS 7010 3.00 INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOUR IN ORGANIZATIONS
This course introduces students to topics and issues relevant to the study of individual and group behaviour. The readings provide an overview of existing research in this area. Students are encouraged to think critically about the contribution of each approach/theory and to develop research ideas and alternative approaches to test specific research questions. In each session students are encouraged to think about: underlying assumptions of theories; relationships with other theories/approaches; research questions answered; interesting unanswered questions; methodological issues and concerns.
ORGS 7050 3.00 MESO ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOUR

DCAD Courses

DCAD 7100 3.00 LOGICS OF SOCIAL RESEARCH
DCAD 7060 3.00 INTRODUCTION TO APPLIED STATISTICS
This course focuses on the use of univariate and multivariate statistics as applied to social and behavioural research within the fields of organizational, management, and consumer studies. It covers descriptive statistics, mean difference testing, analysis of variance and covariance, linear and logistic regression, and a priori sample size calculations, as well as power and effect size calculations.
DCAD 7250 3.00 RESEARCH DESIGN
This course introduces students to research design, strengthens their reasoning and theoretical development skills, helps them effectively apply a range of empirical methodologies to their own research and critically review empirical studies done by others. Topics include types of variables, relationships, sampling and measurement, survey and field research designs, experimental designs, and alternative designs, and research design biases and artifacts.
DCAD 7400 3.00 QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS
DCAD 7600 1.50 GRADUATE COLLOQUIUM IN MANAGEMENT
The rules, norms, and standards that surround the field of academics can seem ambiguous, confusing, and opaque to new Ph.D. students in the management disciplines. The purpose of this two-semester course is to provide a means of articulating central themes in this tacit process, and to provide a means of community-building among management-oriented Ph.D. students. Prerequisite: Open to and required of first- or second-year Ph.D. students in Strategy/Policy and Organization Studies areas.
DCAD 7610 1.50 GRADUATE COLLOQUIUM IN MANAGEMENT
The rules, norms, and standards that surround the field of academics can seem ambiguous, confusing, and opaque to new Ph.D. students in the management disciplines. The purpose of this two-semester course is to provide a means of articulating central themes in this tacit process, and to provide a means of community-building among management-oriented Ph.D. students. Pre-requisite: Open to and required of first- or second-year Ph.D. students in Strategy/Policy and Organization Studies areas.

NOTE:

DCAD 7600 and DCAD 7610: This colloquium is a mandatory course held once a month over both the fall and winter semesters in years 1 (DCAD 7600) and 2 (DCAD 7610)

DCAD 7100 and DCAD 7250: It is highly recommended that these two courses be taken concurrently.

Elective Courses

ORGS Elective Course #1***
ORGS Elective Course #2
Minor Course #1
Minor Course #2

*** It is strongly recommended that ORGS PhD students take ORGS 7020 3.0 (Advanced Topics in Organization Theory) as an elective or as a minor course.

2. First Summer Research Paper added as part of the program requirements

Comprehensive Exam

Students undertake the comprehensive examination after completing their coursework. The comprehensive examination is intended to assess the students’ mastery of core topics in Organization Studies and to demonstrate basic proficiency in research methods. It takes place during or immediately after the summer of the second year. The comprehensive exam is a written exam consisting of two parts. Part I tests students’ knowledge of theory, ability to conceptualize and ability to extend or offer novel insights into current theory. Part II is a research methods exam. Those who fail have the opportunity to retake the exams once, within six months of the date of the first comprehensive exam. Those who fail to pass a second time are not allowed to continue in the PhD program.

The program regards the comprehensive examination as a pivotal point for deciding whether students should be allowed to proceed with their studies or be encouraged to withdraw from the program.

Dissertation Proposal and Defense

After completion of their comprehensive exams, students are required to have a supervisor recommended to the PhD Program Director for approval by the Dean of Graduate Studies no later than the end of their 5th term of study (Students will not be able to register in the 7th term of study unless a supervisor has been approved). A Supervisory Committee must be recommended by the PhD Program Director to the Dean of Graduate Studies no later than the end of the 8th term of study (Students will not be able to register in the 10th term of study unless a Supervisory Committee has been approved).

A formal proposal that outlines their topic and research plan must be written. The dissertation is produced under the guidance of the Dissertation Supervisory Committee, and examined by the Dissertation Examining Committee, under guidelines established by the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

We recommend further consultation with your area Ph.D. rep concerning any impending changes to the program requirements and guidance on selecting appropriate optional courses.

The following faculty are accredited by the Schulich School of Business and the Faculty of Graduate Studies for the supervision of doctoral students:

Selected faculty members

View all members

Graduates typically pursue careers in academic or research institutions. Both current PhD students and graduates of the program are currently making research contributions in diverse areas such as business ethics, technology, team dynamics, sustainability and non-profit organizations.

Placement of Recent Graduates

Christianne Varty	Program Specialist with Canadian Women & Sport
Kam Phung	Assistant Professor, Beedie School of Business, Simon Fraser University
Jaehyun (Tony) Choi	Assistant Professor at the Business-Society Management Department, the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University in the Netherlands.
Tatiana Astray	Postdoctoral Researcher, Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business, University of Waterloo
Angelique Slade Shantz	Assistant Professor, Alberta School of Business, University of Alberta
Marzieh Saghafian	Post-Doctoral Fellow at Stanford University
Sean Buchanan	Assistant Prof at Asper School of Business, University of Manitoba
Golnaz Tajeddin	Assistant Professor, Tarbiat Modares University
Madeline Toubiana	Assistant Professor, University of Alberta
Luciana Turchick Hakak	Assistant Professor, University of Fraser Valley, BC
Golchehreh Sohrab	Teaching Faculty, Faculty of Business and Information Technology, UOIT

Scholarly development is an integral part of student life at Schulich School of Business. Working on research topics with award-winning faculty, you will present your findings at industry conferences and publish them in key publications. Highlighted below are some recent accomplishments of PhD students in the Organization Studies area.

Selected Publications

Christianne Varty (2023), “Diversity climate affords unequal protection against incivility among Asian workers: The COVID-19 pandemic as a racial mega-threat,” Applied Psychology: An International Review. Online Advanced Publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/apps.12462 (with Shen, W., Lam, J. Y., Krstic, A.& Hideg, I.)

Tony Jaehyun Choi (2023), “The Two Sides of Community Political Conservatism and CSR: Exploring the role of community social connectedness,” Organization Studies, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/01708406231156979 (with Deutsch, Y.)

Kam Phung (2023), “The disparate economics outcomes of stigma: Evidence from the arms industry,” Strategic Management Journal, http://doi.org/10.1002/smj.3503 (with Sadri, M., Piazza, A. and Helms, W.)

Sean Buchanan (2023), “Settlement Constellations and the Dynamics of Fields Formed around Social and Environmental Issues,” Organization Science, 34(2): 700-721. (with Zietsma, C. and Matten, D.)

Tony Jaehyun Choi (2022), “The Crisis in Local Newspapers and Organizational Wrongdoing: The Role of Community Social Connectedness,” Organization Science 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2022.1644 (with Valente, M.)

Kam Phung (2022), “Confronting the business models of modern slavery,” Journal of Management Inquiry, 31(3), 264-285. http://doi.org/10.1177/1056492621994904 (with Crane, A., LeBaron, G., Behbahani, L., & Allain, J.)

Sean Buchanan (2022), “Inside the Velvet Glove: Sustaining Private Regulatory Institutions through Hollowing and Fortifying,” Organization Science, 33(6): 2159-2186. (with Barnett, M.)

Angelique Slade Shantz (2021), “Research on Grand Challenges: Adopting an Abductive Experimentation Methodology,” Organization Studies DOI 10.1177/01708- 406211044886 (with Kistruck, G.)

Christianne Varty (2021), “Research: Why some D&I efforts failed employees of Chinese descent,” Harvard Business Review, digital article. https://hbr.org/2021/04/research-why-some-di-efforts-failed-employees-of-chinese-descent (with Shen, W., Hideg, I., Lam, J. and Krstic, A.)

Christianne Varty (2021), “How do leaders foster morally courageous behavior in employees? Leader role modeling, moral ownership, and felt obligation,” Journal of Organizational Behavior, 42(4), 483-503. (with Ogunfowora, B. and Maerz, A.)

Christianne Varty (2021), “Beyond adherence to justice rules: How and when manager gender contributes to diminished legitimacy in the aftermath of unfair situations,” Journal of Organizational Behavior, 42(6), 767-784. (with Barclay, L. J., & Brady, D. L.)

Christianne Varty (2021), “The impact of team moral disengagement composition on team performance: the roles of team cooperation, team interpersonal deviance, and collective extraversion,” Journal of Business and Psychology, 36, 479-494. (with Ogunfowora, B., Stackhouse, M., Maerz, A., Hwang, C., & Choi, J.)

Tony Jaehyun Choi (2021), “The impact of team moral disengagement composition on team performance: the roles of team cooperation, team interpersonal deviance, and collective extraversion,” Journal of Business and Psychology, 36, 479-494. (with Ogunfowora, B., Stackhouse, M., Maerz, A., Hwang, C., & Varty, C.)

Luciana Turchick Hakak (2021). “When stigma doesn’t transfer: Stigma deflection and occupational stratification in the sharing economy,” Journal of Management Studies, 58(4), 1107-1139. http://doi.org/10.1111/joms.12574 (with Phung, K., Buchanan, S., Toubiana, M. and Ruebottom, T.)

Tricia Ruebottom (2021). “When stigma doesn’t transfer: Stigma deflection and occupational stratification in the sharing economy,” Journal of Management Studies, 58(4), 1107-1139. http://doi.org/10.1111/joms.12574 (with Phung, K., Buchanan, S., Toubiana, M. and Turchick-Hakak, L.)

Madeline Toubiana (2021). “When stigma doesn’t transfer: Stigma deflection and occupational stratification in the sharing economy,” Journal of Management Studies, 58(4), 1107-1139. http://doi.org/10.1111/joms.12574 (with Phung, K., Buchanan, S., Ruebottom, T. and Turchick-Hakak, L.)

Sean Buchanan (2021). “When stigma doesn’t transfer: Stigma deflection and occupational stratification in the sharing economy,” Journal of Management Studies, 58(4), 1107-1139. http://doi.org/10.1111/joms.12574 (with Phung, K., Toubiana, M., Ruebottom, T. and Turchick-Hakak, L.)

Kam Phung (2021). “When stigma doesn’t transfer: Stigma deflection and occupational stratification in the sharing economy,” Journal of Management Studies, 58(4), 1107-1139. http://doi.org/10.1111/joms.12574 (with Buchanan, S., Toubiana, M., Ruebottom, T. and Turchick-Hakak, L.)

Tatiana Astray (2021), “Understanding the effects of counterfeit quality on consumer attitudes towards genuine brands: An associative judgment model,” Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences, 38: 229-244 (with Darke, P. R. and Tasa, K.)

Madeline Toubiana (2020), “Once in orange, always in orange? Identity paralysis and the enduring influence of institutional logics on identity,” Academy of Management Journal, 63(6), 1739–1774.

Angelique Slade Shantz (2019), “How Formal and Informal Hierarchies Shape Conflict within Cooperatives: A Field Experiment in Ghana,” Academy of Management Journal, 63(2): 503-529 (with Kistruck, G., Pacheco, D., & Webb, J.)

Angelique Slade Shantz (2019), “Spoils from the Spoiled: Strategies for Entering Stigmatized Markets,” Journal of Management Studies (with Fischer, E., Liu, A., Levesque, M.)

Kam Phung (2019), “The business of modern slavery: Management and organizational perspectives,” In Clark, J. B., & Poucki, S. (Eds.), The SAGE handbook of human trafficking and modern day slavery (pp. 177-197). SAGE Publications. http://doi.org/10.4135/9781526436146 (with Crane, A.)

Recent Dissertation Topics

2023: Christianne Varty – I’ll Believe It When I See It: Widespread Use of Organizational Diversity Statements Undermines Perceived Sincerity and Organizational Attraction

2022: Kam Phung – Translating Lightning in A Bottle: Idealists, Pragmatists, and the Reorientation of
Translators at the Intersection of Blockchain and Climate

2021: Jaehyun (Tony) Choi – Regional Influences on Responsible Behaviours of Business Organizations

2021: Tatiana Astray – Negotiating in Professional Relationships: The Impact of High-Quality Relationships on Negotiation Behaviours and Outcomes

2019: Angelique Slade Shantz – The Opportunity Not Taken: Institutional and Cognitive Barriers to Entrepreneurial Innovation in Contexts of Resource Scarcity

2018: Marzieh Saghafian – The Head and the Heart in Crisis: The Temporal Dynamics of the Interplay Between Team Cognitive Processes and Collective Emotions During Crisis Events

2016: Sean Buchanan – Trade Associations and the Strategic Framing of Change in Contested Issue Organizational Fields: The Evolution of Sustainability in the Canadian Mining Industry, 1993-2013

2015: Madeline Toubiana – Once in Orange Always in Orange? The Cognitive, Emotional and Material Elements of De-Identification and Logic Resilience

2015: Golnaz Tajeddin – The Timing of Discrepant Interruptions and Its Influence on Team Performance

2014: Luciana Turchick Hakak – Professionals in Disguise: Identity Work of Internationally Educated Professionals in Situations of Downward Occupational Transition

2014: Golchehreh Sohrab – Patterns of Team Interaction Under Asymmetric Information Distribution Conditions

Current PhD students in the Organization Studies Area:

as of Fall 2023

Mehran Bahmani
Nicky Cheung
Long He
Mingshuang Ji
Janice Lam
Jean-Marc Moke
Parisa Sharif-Esfahani
Heather Wong
Huan You